Former World number one tennis player, Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain, announced his retirement. The 2003 French Open winner, whose career had been dotted with injury breaks, will hang his racket after playing his home ATP event next month.
"The Valencia Open 500 will be my final tournament, in the best possible scenario," said Ferrero during a news conference that was called with the objective of presenting the ATP event.
"This season injuries have prevented me from playing with regularity and it was a tough year as I realized on the court that I did not have the same ambition after 14 years at the top level.
"I am starting a new phase in my life with tremendous excitement. I will continue to be involved with tennis through the Valencia Open, the academy, the foundation that carries my name and other projects."
Ferrero is currently ranked 111 on the ATP singles circuit. The Spaniard turned professional in 1998 and went on to win 15 titles, including the Masters events in Monte Carlo and Rome. But his crowning moment came in 2003 when he won the French Open defeating surprise finalist Martin Verkerk, 6-1, 6-3, 6-2, in the final.
As far as his Grand Slam career is concerned the French Open title of 2003 is his lone major landmark. In 2004, he reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open and has twice reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon -- in 2007 and 2009.
His last title came in Stuttgart in 2011 on his favorite clay surface.
Ferrero has appeared in 17 Davis Cup ties for Spain. It was because of his efforts that Spain won the prestigious event in 2000.
From then onwards, Ferrero continued to be a key Davis Cup player. In 2003 and 2004, Ferrero contributed to Spain's successive progress to the Davis Cup final.
In 2004, Spain won the Davis Cup for the second time. In 2009, Ferrero won the fifth and decisive rubber against Andreas Beck of Germany in the Davis Cup quarterfinals, putting Spain through to the semi-final. In the semi-final, Ferrero won the second rubber against Israel keeping Spain on track to win the Davis Cup for the second consecutive year, the first nation to do so since Sweden in 1998.
"Among the memories I would pick out the Davis Cup win in 2000, because I understood afterwards how much it meant to play for the country," said Ferrero, who clinched the trophy by beating Australian Lleyton Hewitt in the fourth singles rubber.
